Toy



United States Patent O This invention relates to an amusement device or toy. The object of the invention is to provide a toy or amusement device which includes a rotary member that is actuated by sand or other material so as to provide a device which will provide a high degree of amusement or recreation to the user or onlooker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand operated toy which includes a rotary Wheel that carrys a scoop which serves to automatically actuate a trip or loading device so that sand can be carried from a hopper to a tray as the toy is used or actuated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE l is an end elevational view of the toy of the present invention, with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral indicates the toy or amusement device of the present invention which includes a horizontally disposed lower base 11 and there is further provided a frame which is indicated generally by the numeral 21, and the frame 21 includes a pair of vertically disposed spaced parallel posts 13 which extend upwardly from the base l1 and which are secured thereto. The numeral 12 indicates a tray which is supported on the base 11, and as shown in FIG- URE 2 the tray r12 is adapted to selectively receive the sand therein.

Extending between the upper ends of the posts 13 and secured thereto in any suitable manner is a horizontally disposed platform .14 which serves to support a hopper or container A15, and the hopper 15 is adapted to hold a quantity of sand 16 therein. Depending from the hopper 15 is a neck or discharge spout 17. The numeral 18 indicates a trip and loading device which is pivotally connected to the neck 17 by means of a pin 19, and a trip lug or finger 20 is suitably aixed to the member 1S, FIG- URE 2.

Extending between the pair of posts 13 and supported thereby is a shaft or pin 22, and spacers 23 are mounted on the shaft 22. The numeral 24 indicates a wheel which is rotatably supported on the shaft 22, and the wheel 24 includes a spoke 25 as Well as a rim 26. A scoop 27 is aixed to the outer periphery of the rim 26, FIGURES l and 2.

The numeral 128 indicates a counterweight, and the counterweight 28 includes a container or receptable 3l) which is suitably aixed to the inner portion of the rim 26. The counterweight 28 includes sand 29 which is arranged in the container 30, and a hingedly mounted closure 31 is provided for the container 30 so that the amount of sand or material 29 in the container 30 can be varied or regulated as desired.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a toy of the sand operated type, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, a quantity of sand 16 is adapted to be arranged in the hopper or re- 3,030,731 Patented Apr. 24, 1962 ICC ceptacle 15. This sand will ow down through the neck 17 by gravity and this sand which ilows down through the lower open end of the neck 17 will pass down the trip and loading device 18. When the scoop 27 is in the position of `FIGURE 2, the sand will be received in the scoop 27 and this will cause the scoop 27 to travel in a counter clockwise direction, so that for example the scoop 27 and its associated parts will move from the solid line position of FIGURE 2 to the broken line position shown on the left side of FIGURE 2, whereby the sand will be dumped or emptied from the scoop 27 into the tray i12. The tray 12 can subsequently be lifted olf the base l11 so that the sand which is deposited in the tray 12 can be returned to the hopper 16 in order to permit the toy to be continuously used with the same quantity of sand.

The scoop 127 is affixed to the wheel 24, and the counterweight 28 serves to provide the proper balance to help offset the Weight of the scoop 27. The amount of sand 29 in the counterweight receptacle il` can be varied due to the provision of the hinged cover or closure 311 so that the rotation of the wheel 24 on the shaft 22 can be controlled or regulated.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

In actual practice the wheel 24 makes a complete circle and as the wheel turns or rotates the scoop 27 slides past the sand trip 18 and then as the counter-balance 28 pulls the wheel back, the scoop 27 automatically fills from the sand trip or automatic loader 18. While filling, the spoke 25 of the wheel is at an angle as shown in 'FIGURE 2 and after the scoop is loaded, the scoop will be free to take ofi when full or overebalanced. The Wheel makes a complete circle for each load of sand and then drops back and hits the automatic trip 18. The counter-balance 23 is adjustable so that dierent amounts of sand may be added or subtracted therefrom in order to insure a perfect or smooth operation.

The member 20 is merely a sliding bar for the scoop member 27 to slide across as it makes its complete circle. `Going slightly past the counter balance member 28 causes member 27 to rotate back causing member 27 to strike member 2t) making member 18 start the flow of sand 16 and also member 20 acts as a weight to set-off the flow of sand while the wheel member 24 is making its circle. With further reference to the drawings, when the scoop 27 is in the solid line position of lFIGURE 2, the scoop 27 receives sand from the loader 18, and the scoop 27 is held in the solid line position of FIGURE 2 by the counterbalance 28. When the scoop 27 receives a suicient quantity of sand from the loader 18, the weight of the counterbalance 28 is overcome, and it is to be understood that the material 29 can shift positions in the container Si) of the counterbalance or counterweight 28 as the arm 25 rotates, the sand can dump from the scoop 27 in order to permit the toy to operate in the desired manner.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of the details coming within the eld of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

We claim:

l. In a toy, a horizontally disposed base, a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed posts extending upwardly from said base, a horizontally disposed platform secured to the upper ends of said posts, a sand holding hopper supported on said platform and provided with a depending neck, a trip and loading device pivotally connected to said neck, a shaft extending between said posts, a rotary wheel mounted on said shaft, a spoke connected to said wheel', a counterweight connected to said wheel and arranged contiguous to said spoke, a scoop aiiixed to the outer portion of said wheel, and a tray supported on said base, said counterweight comprising a container having a quantity of sand therein, and a hingedly mounted closure on said counterweight container.

2. A toy comprising a horizontally disposed base, a frame embodying a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed posts having their lower ends aixed to said base, a horizontally disposed platform secured to the upper ends of said posts, a sand holding hopper supported on said platform and having a depending neck, a trip and loading device pivotally connected to said neck and said trip and loading device including a trip lug, a shaft extending between said posts, spacers mounted on said shaft, a rotary wheel mounted on said shaft, said wheel including a spoke and a rim, a counterweight connected to the inner portion of said wheel and arranged adjacent to said spoke, a scoop axed to the outer periphery of said rim, a tray supported on said base, said tray adapted to selectively receive sand therein, said counterweight including a container which has a quantity of sand therein, and a hingedly mounted closure on said counterweight container, said counterweight serving to provide the proper balance to help offset the Weight of the scoop, and wherein due to the provision of the hinge closure, the amount of sand in the counterweight can be varied so that the rotation of the Wheel on the shaft can be controlled and regulated.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,169,598 Bain Jan. 25, 1916 1,429,684 Muldner Sept. 19, 1922 1,935,543 Coughlin Nov. 14, 1933 

